Plane crash survivor signs Michigan basketball letter

Nov. 14, 2013
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Canterbury High basketball player Austin Hatch, center, watches the action from the bench on Nov. 6, 2011. Hatch, who survived a plane crash, has signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Michigan. / Chad Ryan, USA TODAY Sports

by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (AP) - A high school basketball standout who survived a plane crash in Michigan in 2011 that killed his father and stepmother has signed a letter of intent with the Michigan Wolverines.

Austin Hatch averaged 23 points as a sophomore at Canterbury High School in Indiana. He committed to play at Michigan shortly before the plane crash.

He did not play basketball in the immediate aftermath of the June 24, 2011, plane crash near the Charlevoix Municipal Airport in Michigan. Hatch also survived a plane crash eight years earlier that killed his mother.

His family said this August that Hatch would finish high school at Loyola High in the Los Angeles area.

"We are excited to have him back and playing basketball again," Michigan coach John Beilein said in a statement Thursday. "We expect Austin to be an important part of Michigan basketball."

Kameron Chatman, D.J. Wilson and Ricky Doyle also signed with the Wolverines.

"I love the potential of this recruiting class," Beilein said. "They are outstanding young men who love the game and all bring something different to our program."

The 6-foot-7 Chatman is ranked 29th in this class by Rivals.com. He is currently a senior at Columbia Christian High School in Portland, Ore. Chatman did not play varsity basketball during his junior season after being ruled ineligible following a transfer to Long Beach (Calif.) Poly. Before transferring to Poly, he played two seasons at Jefferson High in Portland.

"Kam has a unique ability to play either guard or forward because he is both an excellent rebounder and passer," Beilein said. "His versatility and ability to see the floor gives him the potential of being an excellent playmaker, scorer and defender for us at many different positions."

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